Bronx native Gary Saunders was suspended from the Seton Hall basketball team before last night’s win over visiting West Virginia. Athletic director Jeff Fogelson refused to comment on the reasons, citing his student-athletes’ right to privacy.

“You have my release,” Fogelson said, referring to a prepared statement that claimed the suspension was a result of non-compliance with team and University rules. Fogelson did say that Saunders had just been suspended from the team but not the school itself, and that the senior was still attending class.

“We don’t know [when Saunders will return]. The statement reads as we said,” was all coach Tommy Amaker would say. But guard Shaheen Holloway had more to say about his teammate. “He’s everything to our team. He’s a guy that on any given night can give you 20 points. He’s a vocal leader on and off the court, a guy our young players look up to. It’s hard playing without him.”

The 6-foot-5, 203-pounder from Rice High School was averaging 9.4 points and 3.2 rebounds as the Pirates’ sixth-man. After averaging a team-high 13.5 points and five rebounds last season, he lost his job this season to sophomore Darius Lane, who is now the team’s leading scorer.

Saunders had averaged 25 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as a high school senior to lead Rice to a 25-5 mark and the state A Division semifinals. He went on to Georgia Tech and was the Yellow Jackets’ second-leading scorer as a sophomore before transferring to Seton Hall and sitting out the 1997-98 season.